News From Downtown Eau Claire

4D
Sunday
August 3, 2014
Leader-Telegram
News from Downtown Eau Claire
By Salina Heller, Rebecca Lubecki, Jen Burzynski, Laura Dachel
This ad sponsored by DECI
Demolition makes way for
mixed-use building
Crews knocking down buildings on Eau
Claire Street are making things look a lot different for drivers and pedestrians. The Farmers
Store Plaza building was taken down July 21,
and demolition on the block will continue for
about three more weeks.
The site on the west side of South Barstow
Street will eventually be home to a $25 million
mixed-used building. The lowest level will be
for parking, the ground level will be used for
commercial space such as shops and restaurants, and the top floors (six and seven) will be
apartments.
Stuart Schaefer, principal of Commonweal
Development Corporation of Eau Claire, said
the process started with taking competitive bids
on the work and disconnecting utilities, not
only inside the buildings to be torn down, but
around them.
Electrical wires needed to be removed, along
with ventilation, and anything that could be
reused in other buildings later. According to
Schaefer, they wanted to salvage as much as
they could.
Windows have also been taken from the buildings to be used for later projects. The construction crew did not find anything out of the ordinary
while preparing the buildings for demolition.
“We found some big safes, but not a whole lot of
unexpected stuff,” Schaefer said on the cleaning
process.
Schaefer said unfortunately the new buildings
will not incorporate the façade of the older buildings because of the poor shape they are in.
“The structural components were worse than we
It was quite a sight downtown on July 21 when crews from Market & Johnson brought down the remaining walls of the Farmers
Store Plaza building. Workers sprayed water in order to settle the dust.
thought. We wanted to, but the buildings are too
brittle,” he said.
Schaefer said the current buildings stand 4 ½ feet
over the property line, whereas the new structures
will stand 5 feet back from where the buildings are
currently.
The public-private project began as the
Confluence Project, but is still able to proceed with
this mixed-use building, even though funding for
an arts center is still not secured. UW-Eau Claire is
seeking $25 million in state funding for the $51 mil-
lion arts center through the UW-System.
The Board of Regents will decide this month if
the group will include the request in its proposed
2015-17 budget.
With the poor shape of the current buildings,
and need for what the mixed-use building offers,
Schaefer said construction will proceed regardless
of whether funds for the community arts center are
approved or not.
“We’re getting as much done as we can,” said
Schaefer.
New downtown event lets you have dinner on a bridge
For years community members have wanted places to dine along
the river. With a new event, Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. is providing
an opportunity to have dinner over the river, on a bridge.
It’s called A Grand Evening on the Bridge and will be held August
27 on the Grand Avenue footbridge, pending City Council approval.
“It will be a unique experience! There’s not any other occasion
that you can have a sit-down dinner on a public bridge,” said Salina
Heller, of Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. and organizer of the event.
“Imagine sitting on the historic bridge and looking out over the
scenic river, towards the Phoenix Park bridge, and just taking in the
beauty of the area. When you add music and a three-course dinner,
you’ve got an out of the ordinary evening that will create a neat way
for friends and community members to socialize together.”
There will be seating for 100 people on the bridge with tables
lined up down the bridge for guests to share in the community
experience together. Giralamo’s Court ‘n House will serve
appetizers, while Houligan’s Steak and Seafood Pub will serve the
dinner. Dessert First will provide a dessert. There will also be an
Afterglow at the Court ‘n House’s new space called the SideBar.
“Houligans Steak & Seafood Pub is happy and excited to be a
participant in the Grand Evening on the Bridge!” said Jon Seybold,
owner of Houligans. “This new event is the perfect opportunity to
bring people together for a fun night of food, music and socializing
at one of Eau Claire’s most scenic spots. After years of discussion we
are now able to bring people together to utilize the natural beauty of
our rivers.”
This will be a new signature fundraiser for DECI, with some of
the proceeds going to the Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild and its
“Raise the Roof Campaign.”
“It’s exciting to see the historic bridge used in such a fun way,
taking advantage of the beautiful view of not just one, but two
downtown rivers, said Ann Session, Executive Director of the
Theatre Guild. “The bridge is such a great connection between the
west and the east side of downtown Eau Claire.”
“We are trying to showcase the businesses of the West Grand
Avenue area a bit, and bring people to that district to show them off.
And the Theatre Guild has also
been a great partner and asset to
downtown, and we’re happy to
have the Guild helping out at the
dinner. We’ll have little helpers
dressed in tuxedos!” said Heller.
Heller also said guests will be
encouraged to stroll downtown,
stop at businesses, and go on the
SculptureTour.
Downtown Eau Claire has
received a grant from Visit Eau
Claire and the Wisconsin Arts
Board for the event.
“As we market the Eau Claire
Area, we look for points of
differentiation to create a truly
unique Eau Claire experience
for visitors when they’re here.
It’s events like the “Grand
Evening on the Bridge” that set
our community apart and make
it a great place to live and visit!”
said Linda John, Executive
Director of Visit Eau Claire.
For more information and for
tickets, call 715-839-4914.
Best friends open Artboxx Salon to showcase creativity
Friends Nikki Luft and Brogan Hofstedt have teamed up to bring what they say is a different
salon experience to downtown Eau Claire.
“We’re very excited about the upcoming change, if there’s anything I’m passionate about,
it’s growth. I like to see old become new and that’s exactly what downtown is doing. We’re excited to be a part of that,” said Luft on why they chose South Barstow Street for their location.
Luft, originally from Eau Claire, went to school in Minneapolis for Cosmetology and
worked there for a couple years before returning to Eau Claire. Hofstedt is also originally from
Eau Claire, and returned after working in Milwaukee. The two worked at the same salon for
a couple months in Eau Claire before opening Artboxx together. The duo jokingly describes
their relationship as ‘practically married.’
Inside the salon, the walls and decor are painted different colors, complete with a mural by
artist Steve Bateman. They also recently opened Modern Gypsy Boutique, a clothing, jewelry
and gift shop within their salon.
The name Artboxx came about from the combination of the various creative types, within the salon. Luft said it reminded them of a toy box with the different creative pieces in their
salon. The name idea also came from the color line Luft educates for, which is called “Aloxxi.”
Aloxxi has two “X’s,” which is why Artboxx Salon is spelled with two “X’s.”
Suite rentals are what make their salon different from other salons. Luft explained when a
stylist ventures off to rent a chair, they essentially start their own business, but rent a chair
in someone else’s salon. However, Luft said their salon rents out whole rooms, complete with
their own chair, shampoo bowl, and an entire space.
“It’d be a lot like renting an apartment, you do what you want with the space, you just pay
rent and whatever you do behind your own closed door is your game,” said Luft.
Brogan Hofstedt and Nikki Luft opened Artboxx Salon at 419 South Barstow Street. The shop’s
“We’re definitely very much a part of this downtown as far as this is where we hang out;
been open a couple of months.
our favorite places to go are down here,” said Luft.
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News from Downtown Eau Claire
By Salina Heller, Rebecca Lubecki, Jen Burzynski, Laura Dachel
This ad sponsored by DECI
September 20, 2014
Would you like to be a vendor? It’s time to sign up!
Find a Vendor Application at
DowntownEauClaire.org!
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ound
Footage Festival: Volume 7 – Saturday, August 9
The Found Footage Festival is an acclaimed touring showcase of odd and
hilarious found videos. They celebrate their 10th anniversary with a brandnew show. Hosts Nick Prueher and Joe Pickett take audiences on a tour of
their latest and greatest shocking and bizarre finds with live commentary
and where-are-they-now updates. Event will take place at the Downtown
Cinema, cost is $10. For more information visit foundfootagefest.com or call
715-874-7000.
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Coming up
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owntown
Farmer’s Market –
Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays
Seasonal, locally grown vegetables and fruits, plus baked goods, dairy
products, meat, honey, maple syrup, flowers, art, coffee, and more.
Wednesday 7:30a.m.-1:00p.m., Thursdays 12:00p.m.-5:00p.m., Saturdays
7:30a.m.-1:00p.m. at Phoenix Park. For more information visit: www.
ecdowntownfarmersmarket.com
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S
Open Chainsaw Sculpture Championship 2014 –
Thursday, August 7 – Sunday, August 10
Top chainsaw artists from around the world compete for prizes as they
turned simple logs into stunning works of art. This event is taking place
in Carson Park. For more information and admission prices please visit:
uschainsawchamps.com
Grand Evening on the Bridge – Wednesday, August 27
A Grand Evening on the Bridge is a unique, brand new event coming to
Downtown Eau Claire. It's sure to be a memorable evening for those who are
able to reserve a spot. Dinner tables will span part of the length of the historic
Grand Avenue Bridge seating 100 people - all to enjoy a night out that will be
different than anything they've ever had. Guests will enjoy a sit-down dinner,
listen to music, mingle, and chat about the atmosphere in the company of
neighbors, family, friends, and other community members. Social starts at
5:30 pm with dinner 6:00-8:00 pm. For tickets call (715) 839-4914.
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eader
Telegram Buckshot Run – August 30
Join us for the 32nd Annual Leader-Telegram Buckshot Run benefitting
Special Olympics Wisconsin. 100% of money raised from the race stays
locally to help 1,000 Special Olympics athletes with intellectual disabilities
train and compete in sports year-round. It’s a life changing opportunity for
these kids and adults. Cost: $35 day of event, $18 advanced payment. Early
bird pricing ends August 8. 5 mile starts: 9 am, 2 mile starts: 10:30 am, Kids’
race: 11:30 am, awards at noon, Party in the Park: 9 am – 1 pm. To register,
visit: SpecialOlympicsWisconsin.org/buckshot. For more information contact
Karen at kkraus@specialolympicswisconsin.org.
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irst
Fridays in Downtown Eau Claire –
Friday, September 5
Several downtown Eau Claire businesses offer special deals, events and
extended hours.
Images by Lee Photography